Category Archives: Jewelry Designers

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I was honored, this week, to be interviewed by the awesome Jean Yates. Jean won a pair of my earrings in a giveaway hosted by Earrings Everyday. Having connected through this giveaway, Jean then asked if she could interview me on her blog.

Heart earrings that Jean won.

Jean is a well known author, bead magazine columnist, freelance reviewer, frequently published jewelry designer and illustrator. Her book, Links, was already a part of my beading library.

Links, by Jean Yates

Jean has been very positive and encouraging to me. She asked good, thought provoking questions in the interview and posted lots of pictures of my recent jewelry designs. She also posted a school photo of me (I was a teacher, remember) from about 5 years ago. My hair is about 8 inches longer now and a bit grayer, but it still looks like me.😉

I hope you’ll go check out the interview. I feel really honored to have this interview included with the interviews she has done with so many of the outstanding designers in this field. Here’s the link: Snap out of it Jean! There’s beading to be done!

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And, by the way…. I just added these earrings to my Etsy shop. I titled them Spring Fever! I wonder why??? Are you itching for spring too?

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

On ArtFire

After a week’s delay, I’m back on track with my Tuesday Tours. Thank you to everyone who wished me a speedy healing. I’m still bruised and tender, but I’m feeling much better!

Each week I’ve been sharing items from some of my favorite shops and recently I’ve been featuring items from artisans living in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you will find some cool Christmas gifts here – for yourself or others on your list!

First off are handmade glass beads from my good friends, Jenelle and Dan, of Beads and Botanicals. Not only do they live in the Pacific NW, they even live in the same town that I do. At my shows, the past two weekends, I sold at least two bracelets and two pairs of earrings that included their lampwork glass beads. Aren’t these green disks awesome? I love the contrast between the smooth green centers and the rough-hewn edges. Is there a beader in your life? Make them happy when they discover these handmade, lampwork beads in their stocking.

Moving from beads to finished jewelry – I love this spectacular red poppy themed necklace by Janet of Honey from the Bee. It starts off with an exceptionally beautiful handmade glass focal bead that looks like a field of poppies in glass. The asymmetrical designs includes glass poppies vining up one side, accented by antique French brass centers. As if that weren’t enough, Janet wove a spiral of tiny glass beads to encircle your neck. This is an heirloom quality piece to give to someone really special in your life!

I really had a hard time selecting one item from Kristi Bowman Design. Kristi’s work is very imaginative. She has a great feel for color and interesting texture in her designs. I really like the way she wire-wrapped the fire opal on these earrings and suspended them from the small blue ruffled rings. Awesome!

You can also find great handmade Christmas gifts at Linda Landig Jewelry. Here’s the most recent addition to my shop. Titled the “Blue Danube Earrings”, they have copper connectors that are handmade by Kristi Bowman (featured above). Check out the gorgeous design in the copper! I suspended cornflower blue ceramic dangles, (by Elaine Ray), beneath the copper. I really love this combination of blue and copper. I’m thinking that I may have to make a similar pair for myself!

If you have questions about any these items arriving in time for Christmas, just send a message to the artist about it. There is a contact button at the bottom of the first page of each shop. Some of us (including me) are guaranteeing same or next day shipping.

Handmade Christmas Gifts From

the Pacific Northwest

Every Tuesday, from now until Christmas, I’m sharing some of the great Christmas gift ideas I’ve found on ArtFire. For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to focus on artisan items from the Pacific northwest (USA). There’s a lot of talent up here in the northwest corner of the country. And with internet connections, you don’t have to be here to own some of these great items. So get out your Santa bag and see what you’d like to add to it!

Wouldn’t some Santa’s helper on your list be glad to receive these earrings? I love the combination of gold and red, and these earrings are especially elegant! They are by gilliauna, an artist from Washington State.

I have added a Holiday Collection section to my ArtFire shop. It is on the right hand side of my first page. I also added a category for Gifts Under $25. These earrings are from my Holiday Collection and they are only $16! The fun glass Christmas “candy” beads look good enough to eat, (but please don’t!).

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

On ArtFire

Every Tuesday, from now until Christmas, I’m sharing some of the great Christmas gift ideas I’ve found on ArtFire. We all need original Christmas gift ideas, right? Time to put aside stale old gift ideas and reach out for something unique and handmade.

Talking about stale old gift ideas….does anyone else have as much trouble as I do, shopping for the guys in your life? Books, puzzles, letter openers and then what? Rinse and repeat. The first item I want to share is not a big gift, but it could be a thoughtful stocking stuffer for a man or a woman. Billed as a gardeners soap, the product description says it is also an awesome soap for mechanics. I personally love receiving handmade soaps and I found lots to like at Appalachian Heritage Soaps.

The hand-woven bead jewelry by Mortira of Sage’s Cupboard is really amazing. You really should take some time to browse through her shop. I do some right angle weave bracelets with 4-6 mm beads, but Mortira works in tiny glass seed beads. This requires so much time, patience and attention to detail. I am always in awe of her work. The Kenya Bracelet (below) is just one example of her work. I chose it because it would work as a Christmas bracelet, while still being appropriate for year round use.

Kenya Bracelet. Red Green Black Two Strand Beaded Tribal Wrist Wrap

The color of these hand knit dishcloths, from Ewenique Essentials, is just yummy! It makes me want to make some melon colored jewelry!

Tuesday Tour – Week 2

Every Tuesday, from now until Christmas, I’m going to take you on a tour of some of my favorite Art Fire shops. I’ll feature some special items from those shops, with the hope that you’ll find some great handmade Christmas gifts or something sweet for yourself.

Many people are starting their Christmas shopping now; hoping to spread it out over two months and avoid last-minute craziness. If you really want to avoid the frenzied crowds and the rushed, pressured feelings, I suggest that you shop for handcrafted items online.

When you shop handmade for Christmas, you help support artists and their families. You get to interact directly with the artist, without middlemen or big box stores. Plus, you will get personal attention and customer service. What could be better?

I’m going to start off today with Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. Catherine was the first person to purchase from me when I came to ArtFire and we have become good online friends. She is always available to answer my questions and she works tirelessly to promote other artisans. Catherine’s work primarily features lovely gemstones, with designs inspired by nature. It’s difficult to choose just one favorite item from her shop, but these Laser Etched Black Onyx Earrings are brand new and I really love them. Check out the sweet little stars at the bottoms of the earrings!

Laser etched Onyx Earrings

This cute little handmade Yellow Duck Soap is available at Forget Me Not Soaps on ArtFire. It it is banana scented and would make a delightful stocking stuffer for the little kiddos in your life.

Tomlinson Photography and Design is one of my favorite shops. I have a great appreciation of art photography and like to play around with my camera a bit myself. This Winter Red Berry Card, or the others in her shop, would make unique Christmas cards this year. She’ll even personalize them with your family name or greeting.

Tomlinson Photography Christmas card

Before I started making jewelry, I tried my hand at basket weaving, so I have an insider’s appreciation of all the work that goes into the creation of a handmade basket. This Hand-woven Basket With A Rolling Pin Handle is one of the most clever baskets I’ve ever seen. Wouldn’t it make a unique Christmas gift for the baker on your list? I just love this! It is available from Baskets By Rose.

You can also find great handmade Christmas gifts at Linda Landig Jewelry. Please visit my shop for handmade jewelry with an artisan flair.

A New Regular Feature

From now, at least until Christmas, I’m adding a new regular feature called Tuesday Tour. Each Tuesday I’m going to take you on a tour of some of my favorite Art Fire shops. I’ll feature some special items from those shops, with the hope that you’ll find some great handmade gifts or something sweet for yourself. When you purchase handmade, your dollars are not just going to some big corporation, but to a real, live artisan who is investing their heart and talent in the item you are giving as a gift. What better way to let your loved one know how special they are than to give them something unique and handcrafted?

Dragon Designs makes purses, totes, knitting needle bags and accessories. I’m hoping for a kindle cover this Christmas and Dragon Designs has lots of great options. There are quite a few that I like. Here’s just one example.

Dragon Designs Kindle cover

I love the bright clean graphics in the Artis shop. The have fun business card holders, name plates and coaster sets.

Artis Coasters

Last of all I’d like to feature my friend Janet, of Pink Poppy Studio. Janet designs beautiful jewelry with artisan components and gemstones. It’s hard to choose just one of her pieces, but here is one of my favorites.

Ceramic Ginkgo Necklace

You can also find great handmade Christmas gifts at Linda Landig Jewelry. Please visit my shop for handmade jewelry with an artisan flair.

Let me know what you think about this new feature. Tell me if there a certain kinds of handmade items that you are particularly interested in seeing.

Meeting Kristi Bowman

at Shipwreck Beads

On Monday I got to meet up with my online friend, Kristi Bowman-Gruel. Kristi designs jewelry and makes wonderful copper clay components which she sells in her Etsy shop: Dream Some. Quite a few of my earrings include Kristi’s awesome copper charms.

Kristi also shared a lovely selection of her handmade copper components. I didn’t take any pictures of all the beautiful things she brought. I was so excited by her beautiful copper that I forgot all about my camera! I did buy 2 copper charm sets and a pendant from Kristi. I’ll photograph them later this afternoon and share them for my Bead Table Wednesday post.

All in all we spent a delightful afternoon together. I’m so glad we could meet!